Consultation on Harassment

Why is harassment a problem?

Harassment creates serious problems. Even if acts of harassment are committed unintentionally by the offender (perpetrator), it can cause damage to the character or dignity of the victim and can result in serious physical or mental effects. As a result, the victim may lose their motivation to study, conduct research or work, leading to dropping out of school or resigning from work. Students and faculty at Shizuoka University must not commit acts of harassment nor turn a blind eye to any such acts they witness. Let’s all maintain constant awareness of the issue of harassment and do our best to create a healthy environment free of harassment.

Who do these measures apply to?

All “members” of the university and “associates” of the university or its members are subject to measures to prevent harassment.

  • The term “members” refers to university teaching staff, temporary staff working at the university, and students of the university.
  • The term “associates” refers to guardians of persons such as students at the university, contractors doing business with the university, persons such as joint researchers of institutions outside the university and persons having relationships with the university or its members relating to employment or school attendance.

What constitutes harassment?

The Shizuoka University Anti-Harassment Guidelines provides examples of acts in each category that may be interpreted as harassment. The Shizuoka University Anti-Harassment Regulations defines five types of harassment and secondary harassment as follows:

Sexual harassment

Sexual harassment refers to sexual speech and/or conduct made by members against the will of other members or associates that adversely affect the work or study environment, or acts of solicitation of sexual favors from other members or associates using promises of rewards or threats of imposition of disadvantages.

Academic harassment

Academic harassment refers to inappropriate speech and/or conduct or discriminatory treatment by employees targeting persons such as students or associates using their dominant position in the spheres of education and research.

Power harassment

Power harassment refers to speech and/or behavior by employees targeting other employees or associates that goes beyond the scope and appropriate bounds required for work, adversely affecting the work environment of the targeted employee or associate.

Harassment relating to Pregnancy, Childbirth and Childcare Leave

This type of harassment refers to speech and/or conduct by employees relating to the pregnancy or childbirth of other employees or associates, or speech and/or conduct regarding the use of childcare leave, nursing care leave, child nursing leave, nursing leave, limitations on overtime work, overtime restrictions, limitations on late-night work or shortening of prescribed working hours that adversely affect the work environment of the targeted employee or associate.

Other Forms of Harassment

Other forms of harassment include inappropriate speech and/or conduct or discriminatory treatment by members targeting other members or associates based on personal attributes, or harassment infringing on personal rights, causing mental anguish to targeted members or associates.

Secondary Harassment

Secondary harassment refers to acts of retribution or harassment or the imposition of disadvantages or damage against persons who have used the system for allegations of or consultation on harassment, cooperated with investigations or otherwise responded properly in preventing harassment (including problem-solving).

What to do if you are troubled by harassment?

To resolve or prevent problems with harassment, the university has established consultation services both on and off university campus. Please feel free to use these services if you are unsure if a certain situation is harassment. All the consulting services strictly protect the privacy of consulting persons and keep the content of consultations strictly confidential. There is no need to worry alone or blame yourself. Let’s work together to solve your problems. Please remember that the Shizuoka University Anti-Harassment Guidelines also provide useful information about what to do if you are troubled by harassment or what kind of acts may be considered as harassment.

On-campus Consultation Service

  • Harassment Advisors
    Advisors are members of the teaching staff who are appointed by the university president and who respond to those in need of help. Consultations can also be provided by letter, telephone, or email.
  • Harassment Consultation Box
    Consultation boxes are set up in various locations at Shizuoka and Hamamatsu campuses. The boxes are regularly checked by advisors. Advisors will contact anyone who has left mail in the boxes, so please remember to include your contact information.

Off-campus Consultation Service (Japanese only)

The off-campus consultation service is provided free of charge by an operator at the behest of the university and provides consultation for persons seeking help.
Telephone or web consultations are also available. Anonymous consultations are also possible.

For details, see the PDF at the link below. (Japanese only)